Legal Practice

Facebook files – is Hate Speech Deleted? The Human Rights As- pects of Content Control of Social Media Platforms

Published:
2020-02-13
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Selected Style: APA
Nagy, K. (2020). Facebook files – is Hate Speech Deleted? The Human Rights As- pects of Content Control of Social Media Platforms. Pro Futuro, 8(2), 115-136. https://doi.org/10.26521/Profuturo/2018/2/4722
Abstract

The internet intermediaries, such as services like Google and Facebook became important actors who can influence the media supply through the personalised information flow tailored by their own algorithms and due to the content moderation of their own platforms. These services have exceeded their previous activities which were merely of an intermediary scope and this change affects substantially the fulfilment of international human rights standards. The article analysed first and foremost the operation of the internet intermediaries, especially of the social media platforms from the freedom of expression point of view. It seeks answers to the question to what extent does the moderation of the user generated content on the platforms, i.e. removing and blocking contents which do not comply with the terms and conditions of the platforms, comply with the requirements of the restriction of human rights. Based on the analysis of Facebook’s own regulatory framework, it evaluates content moderation activity on hate speech on the platform in the context of human rights. It points out the guarantees of human rights which are missing from the content control mechanisms of Facebook.